It is a Wonderful Life

I am often reminded of the movie on Saturday's at the abortion mill.

Seriously.

Year round.

Every week I wonder how the world will be forever changed and an irreplaceable void created if the parents with whom I plead gave into the despair of the abortionists.

Could it be that the cure to HIV/AIDS/CANCER still elude us because the scientist who was to find the cure died prematurely in an abortion mill?

How many "Harrys" drown in our town because the George's who would have made a difference in their lives weren't there to do so because of the despair of their parents?

None of us can even begin to imagine how different the world we live in is, because of all those who are missing: not by their own "choice" but rather because of a "choice" imposed upon them by those who had been entrusted to their care.

Last Saturday I almost didn't meet Deandria. I wasn't paying attention as she came up the sidewalk behind me. By the time I spotted her she was by me and onto the lot. She was alone. I remember being startled and that I only managed to get out a quick statement about Thrive and she was to the door. I could have kicked myself. What was I doing?

Perhaps 30 minutes later I saw her emerge. This time I WAS paying attention. As she approached to return down the sidewalk from which she came, I walked along side and offered her information about Thrive ("only 2 blocks away"..."free pregnancy test"..."free ultrasound") but she just kept walking, no eye contact and no response. As she was about to cross the street, I began to turn away- discouraged that I was unable to reach her.

Then I heard her say "Did you say free pregnancy test?" My heart jumped. "Absolutely, and it's only a couple of blocks from here. I'd be glad to take you there!" Now there was eye contact. Her name is "Deandria". Suddenly her baby's chance (if she was pregnant) jumped from a 90% plus chance of being killed to a more than 90% chance of being there someday for the Harry's of the world. And she was to learn if she was pregnant from people who CELEBRATE life. It is that HOPE which turns the odds on their heads.

Steve and Mary offered to drive Deandria to Thrive and did so.

So 60 years and 9 months ago my parents, Rosemary and George, cooperated with God and said yes to life. And yours truly was born. And because of their "fiat" I was alive to be on a street corner in St. Louis on a cool December day to offer hope to a stranger named Deandria. To rescue her and and perhaps her child from the despair of the abortionists.

Merry Christmas Clarence.